New Clinic-on-Wheels Will Help Keep Kids Healthy and in School
Latest addition to healthyUexpress fleet will add flexibility to school-based health centers
University Health System’s newest clinic for kids features bright colors, two well-equipped exam rooms — and a steering wheel.
The healthyUexpress mobile health vehicle, launched this month, will be used to extend the Health System’s new school-based health center initiative to campuses in far-flung parts of Bexar County — or wherever it’s needed. The school-based health centers are designed to keep kids healthy and in the classroom.
It can accommodate most of the services provided by the health centers, including primary and urgent care, immunizations and sports physicals. It will be staffed by a pediatric nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a medical assistant and a clerk.
The first of the school-based health centers was located in the Harlandale Independent School District, on the campus of Collier Elementary School. University Health System is currently working with the San Antonio Independent School District and Southwest Independent School District to establish two more school-based health centers, with additional centers in the planning stages.
“With our school-based health center program, we’re expanding the availability of health services to schoolchildren throughout Bexar County, and with our latest healthyUexpress vehicle, we’re extending that care even further — even to remote locations,” said George B. Hernández Jr., president and CEO of University Health System
The first healthyUexpress has been providing mobile mammography services to workplaces, schools and other locations since 2011. Both were built by Farber Specialty Vehicles of Columbus, Ohio.
The latest vehicle has two exam rooms, reception area, restroom and a custom slide-out room. It includes telemedicine capabilities so that a physician at any University Health System location can consult if needed.
Like the school-based health centers, the mobile health vehicle accepts most forms of insurance, including Medicaid and CHIP. For children with no health coverage of any kind, a flat fee of $15 will cover most visits, including lab tests. No child will be turned away because of an inability to pay.
The new vehicle is one of 23 Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment projects developed by University Health System under the state’s 1115 Medicaid waiver. The waiver includes funds to improve the availability and quality of medical care in Texas.
Throughout February, the vehicle will be providing physicals to young children at Head Start locations under the Texas Healthy Steps program, in partnership with the school district and the city of San Antonio.
To schedule healthyUexpress at your site, call 210-358-TALK (8255).
